Oslo: Narges Mohammadi, a prominent Iranian women’s rights advocate, has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering dedication to combating the oppression of women in Iran and championing human rights and freedom.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the prestigious honour, citing Mohammadi's exceptional efforts to advocate for women’s rights and her relentless campaign for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran.
Mohammadi, currently serving multiple sentences totalling approximately 12 years in Evin prison in Tehran, has been a stalwart defender of human rights despite facing adversity.
As the deputy head of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre, a non-governmental organization led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, Mohammadi has been at the forefront of the struggle for justice and equality in Iran. Her dedication to the cause has led to multiple periods of detention, with charges including spreading propaganda against the state.
Mohammadi's recognition as the 19th woman to receive the 122-year-old Nobel Peace Prize marks a significant milestone. She follows in the footsteps of Maria Ressa of the Philippines, who jointly won the 2021 award with Russia’s Dmitry Muratov.
The award, accompanied by a prize of 11 million Swedish crowns (£819,000), will be formally presented in Oslo on December 10th, coinciding with the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the visionary Swedish industrialist who established the prestigious awards in his will in 1895.